Guard fence assembly



Dec. 12, 1961 J. L. DIEHL GUARD FENCE ASSEMBLY Filed May 5, 1958 I i I INVENTOR. dimes 1. 0/5/44 13% I United States Patent Oflice 3,012,255 Patented Dec. 12, 1961.

3,012,255 GUARD FENCE ASSEMBLY James L. Diehl, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Invalid Walker & Wheel Chair C0., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Jaiifornia Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 733,097 12 Claims. (Cl. -331) The present invention relates generally to guard fence attachments for beds and particularly to a guard fence assembly including an improved bracket whereby a guard fence of a given size can be adjustably attached to beds of different sizes.

A Wide variety of guard fence attachments have heretofore been devised and marketed, particularly for use with hospital beds to keep patients from falling out of bed. Such attachments are sometimes integrally incorporated with the basic bed structure. However, since not all patients require the restraint of guard fences, it is generally more economical to utilize detachable guard fence assemblies which can be attached and removed from the basic bed frame at will. The present invention has to do with such detachable guard fence assemblies, although it is also very readily adaptable to inclusion in the basic framework of a hospital bed.

Although hospital beds generally vary in many details of construction, they can roughly be classified in accordance with their length and the vertical distance between the sills or longitudinally extending side rails of the frame and the top of the mat-tress. In order to achieve economy, it ishighly desirable that a detachable guard fence assembly be usable with beds of all sizes despite the varying details of construction such as are found in the beds of different manufacturers. An important object of my invention is to provide a guard fence assembly of a universally adaptable nature so that it can be detachably mounted on different sizes of beds.

Another object of my invention is to provide a guard fence assembly utilizing an improved bracket support which is adapted to mount a guard fence of a given size on beds of different lengths and of different vertical depths.

A further object of my invention is to provide a supporting bracket of this type which can be detachably mounted on any side of a bed frame at either end of the bed so that identical brackets can be used for supporting any end of the guard fence at any corner of the bed.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a guard fence assembly utilizing opposite end supporting brackets adapted to .permit lowering of onev end of the guard fence independently of vertical movement of the other end of the guard fence; With this. arrangement of supporting means for the guard fence, there is no danger of entanglement of the bedding with the guard fence or with the guard fence supports, whereby wear and tear on the bedding is avoided. With this arrangement the bedding is also readily accessible whether the guard fence is raised or lowered so that change or alteration of the bedding is more easily achieved.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a guard fence assembly that can be used with variable height beds so that when one end of the bed is elevated,- the guard fence assumes the same inclination as the mattress to protect the patient.

A still further object of my invention is :to provide a guard fence assembly in which the opposite end members of the guard fence are vertically movably mounted in a guide member, the guide member being pivotally and longitudinally movably mounted in 'a supporting bracket. With this arrangement the guard fence can be lowered at one end while the. other end remains raised to confine life and in which a guard fence of a given size is] sup-- ported on identical brackets, the whole being made with a minimum number of parts readily fabricated from commercially available materials.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description. of a presently preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevational side view of a hospital bed of a first size provided with a presently preferred embodiment of a guard fence assembly incorporating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevational side view of a second size of hospital bed utilizing the guard fence assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a presently preferred embodiment of a universal guard fence support bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical end view, partly in section,.

taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial top plan view, partly in section, taken in the direction 5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, of a hospital bed equipped with the guard fence assembly and particularly demonstrating the manner of raising or lowering the guard fence.

Referring now to the drawing for the general arrangement of my invention, and in particular to FIGURE 6, eachguard fence 10 of a bed 16 is supported at opposite ends by a pair of identical support brackets 12. Anyone of the brackets can be detachably connected to any of the upright legs 14 of bed 16 to vertically movably support one of the end members 18 of the fence 10in a; guide means 20. A latch means 22 is mounted on each of the guide means 20 to releasably lock the fence 10 in a raised position.

Each guide means 20 is movably mounted on its support bracket 12 so that when the latch means 22 thereof is released, the corresponding end of fence-1 can be lowered independently of vertical movement of the otherend of the fence, theother. end of the fence undergoing correspondingangnlar movement. When one end of a fence 10 has thus been lowered, the other end of the fence can be lowered by release of the latch means 22 associated therewith.

Specifically, the support bracket 12 is adapted to be detachably mounted upon the side of a bed frame adjacent one end thereof and preferably on one of'the bed legs 14. For this purpose, a clamping structure is provided such as is best seen in FIGURE 3. A flat'general- 1y U-shaped backing plate 24 at its closed end rigidly mounts a pair of stud bolts 26 which are slidably received in suitable holes formed in the confronting end' of a longer plate or support member 28. The backing plate 24 is adapted to abut the inside of a bed leg 14 with a pair of arms 30, the free ends of arms 30'having flanges 32 extending towards the confronting support member' cal spacers 34 through which the pair of stud bolts 26 are slidably receivable. The free ends of thebolts 26 pivotally and longitudinally 3 are threaded to receive adjusting nuts 36, each of which has an enlarged head 38' which is peripherally knurled to facilitate manual adjustment of the nuts. Suitable washers 40 are placed under each of the nuts 36 against the outer face of support member 28. v

As is apparent, the nuts 36 can be appropriately manipulated to clamp a bed leg 14 of either round or rectangular tubular configuration between the confronting surfaces of the backing plate 30 and support member 28. In order to prevent marring or scratching of the bed leg, each of the backing plate arms 30 on the inside is provided with a piece 42 of a suitable plastic or other cushioning material confronting a piece 44 of similar material adhesively or otherwise secured to the inside of support member 28. 'For the same purpose each of the spacers 34 is wrapped in a tubular piece 46 of the padding material;

The support member 28 is mounted to extend longitudinally inwardly from the bed leg 14. In order to provide a suitable clearance space between the guard fence and the mattress and bedding, the support member 28 is stepped outwardly or bent as indicated at 48 whereby the guide means is positioned sidewardly away from the bed for supporting the guard fence in a cleared position.

The guide means 28 comprises a short length of tube 50 having a bearing plate 52 rigidly secured as by welding 54 alongside one end portion of the tube. The plate 52 on the side opposite to the tube 50 rigidly mounts a pivot pin 56 that is slidable in a slot 58 extending longitudinally of the support member 28. A lock nut 60 is threadedly mounted on the end of the pin 56 and beneath it has a suitable washer 62 for sliding engagement with the inside of the support member 28. As is apparent the lock nut 60 can be adjusted to provide more or less freedom of slidable and pivotal movement of the guide means 20 relative to the support member 28.

The tube 50 is adapted to slidably receive either of the tubular end members 18 of guard fence 1! The guard fence 10 is supported in lowered position merely by the engagement of the lower ends of the members 18 with the floor.- In order to support the fence 10 in a raised position, the tube 50 is provided with the latch means 22 best seen in FIGURE 3.

-The latch means 22 includes a cylindrical housing 64 afiixed to the tube '50 near the end of the tube opposite from-the bearing plate 52 and parallel to support member 28. A piston member 66 is slidable in the housing 64 and at its inner end is formed with a latch pin portion 68 adapted to move inwardly and outwardly through an aligned bore formed in the wall of the tube 50. The outer end of the housing 64 threadedly receives an annular cap 70 to provide a seat for a compression spring 72 'biased against a shoulder 74 formed on the piston member to yieldably urge the latch pin 68 into the tube 50. The outer end of piston member 56 is formed with a finger engageable head portion 76 by means of which the latch .pin 60 is selectively withdrawn and released to operate the latch means. The end members 18 of the guard fence adjacent the lower ends thereof are each formed with a pair of diametrically opposite square latch holes. 78, such as are shown in phantom outline in FIG- URE 4. The guard fence 10 is supported in raised posi-' tion by engagement of the latch pins 68 with the holes 78. I

It should particularly be noted that the guide means 20. is mounted on the support member 28 for angular movement and for simultaneous rectilinear movement in a direction generally longitudinal of the bed. It should also be observed that the latch means 22 is offset from the axis of angular movement, i.e. oifset from the pivot pin 56 of the guide means 20; The reasons for this arran'gement can best be understood from an examination ofg-FIGURES 1 and 2. I i

FIGURE 1 illustrates a currentlypopular type of hos- 4 pital bed 16 While FIGURE 2 illustrates an older style of hospital bed 16. Either of these :beds is commonly available in sizes to accommodate 72 inch or 80 inch lengths of mattress and the guard fence attachment of my invention is adapted to be mounted on beds of these and other lengths. Additionally, it will be observed that in the bed 16 of FIGURE 2 a mattress 80 and an adjusting mechanism 82 are rested directly on the side rails or sills 84 of the bed. In the bed 16 of FIGURE 1, the vertical dimension between the bottom of the mattress 80 and the sills 84 is considerably greater than the corresponding dimension in the bed 16 due to the greater depth of the adjusting mechanism 86 of the bed 16. The guard fence assembly of my invention can be detachably mounted on either of the beds 16 or 16 irrespective of the length of the bed, as will be apparent from the following description of the use of my invention.

A pair of the identical support brackets 12 is used for each guard fence 10 which it is desired to mount on a bed. These brackets are clamped on the bed legs 14 immediately beneath a sill 84 in the manner previously described so that in each case the support member 28 extends longitudinally inwardly of the bed. Assuming that the bed is of the older style 16, the latch means 22 is disposed under or lower than the pivot pin 56, as in FIGURE 2. The end members 18 of the fence 10 are then inserted into the tube 50 and the latch pin 68 manually withdrawn'from within the tube 50 to permit the guard fence It) to be moved to lowered position, with the lower end of each end member 18 resting on the floor.

When the bed is occupied by a patient and it is desired to utilize the guard fence 10, each end of the fence can be moved to raised position independently of the other end. When one end of thefenoe 10 has been moved to the raised position, the one .of the pair of latch holes 78 which is formed in the side of member 18 facing the end of the bed will automatically receive the spring loaded latch pin 68. The guard fence 10 will then be in the position indicated in FIGURE 6 in which the right hand end member 18 still rests on the floor. This end can then be raised in the same manner as the first end and it will be noted that during such raising either or both of the guide means 22 will be shifted in brackets 12 in a direction longitudinal of the bedby virtue of play provided by the slots 58. During any vertical movement of the guard fence 10 between raised and lowered positions, both of the guide means 20 may undergo simultaneous angular and rectilinear movement. Thus the slots 58 formed in support members 28 not only serve to permit longitudinal play of the guide means 20 in their support brackets 12 during vertical movement of the fence 10, but also provide a means for automatically adjusting the guard fence assembly to the particular length of the bed.

If it is desired to mount the guard fence assembly on the bed 16 of FIGURE 1, the support brackets 12 are connected to the bed legs 14 in the same manner as before. However, prior to insertion of the end members 18 within the guide means 20, each of the guide tubes 50 is rotated to the position shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 3 so that the latch means 22 is higher than the pivot pin 56 and on the opposite side'of the guide tube 50 relative to the position shown in full outline. End members 18 of the guard fence are then inserted into the guide tubes in the same manner as before. Since the latch pin 68 will now engage the opposite one of the pair of latch holes 78 (ie the hole 78 formed on the longitudinally inwardly facing side of member 18) above rather than below the pivot .pin 56, a greater vertical dimension is achieved between the top of the guard fence 10 and the support bracket :12 than with the bed 16'. The guard fence 10 is thus disposed in the correct position relative to the top surface of the mattress 80.

Hospital beds are commonly provided with-a mechanism for elevating either end of the bed so that the mattress assumes a correspondingly inclined position. This elevating mechanism usually comprises crank-actuated telescopically engaged tubular leg members including a screw jack. For example, in certain cases in which it might be desirable to apply a traction device to the feet or legs of a patient, the footof the bed wouldbe elevated by utilizing such a mechanism. My guard fence assembly is particularly advantageous in such situations since it will assume an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the mattress so that the patient is protected in any attitude of the bed. 'As is apparent, this is achieved through the angular and rectilinear movability of the guide means 20 relative to the support member 28.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the construction heretofore illustrated and described. However, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular details of construction shown and described above except as limited by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a guard fence attachment for beds the improvement comprising the combination of: at least one support member adapted for mounting on an end of a bed adjacent; one end of a fence on said bed; a means on said support member to guide said one end of said fence for movement between raised and lowered positions in a substantially vertical plane, said guide means being mounted on said support member for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis; and a latch means on said guide means ina position offset from the axis of angular movement of said guide means whereby said latch means is selectively movable to positions above and below said axis to releasably lock said fence in either of two raised positions.

2. In a guard fence attachment for beds having a fence the combination of: at least one support adapted to be afiixed upon a side ofa bed frame adjacent one end of said fence; a guide on said support adapted to constrain said one end of said fence for movement between raised and lowered positions, said guide adjacent one end being pivotally mounted on said support for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and for concurrent movement longitudinally of said. support; and a latch means adjacent the other end of said guide for selective positioning above and below said pivotal axis upon angular movement of: said guide when said guide is free of said end. member whereby. said latch means can releasably engage said one end toreleasably lock said one end of said fencein either of two raised positions corresponding to the selected position of said latch means.

3. A bracket for attaching a guard fence of a given length on beds of different sizes, comprising: a support member adapted for mounting upon a side of a bed frame adjacent one end thereof; a means on said support member to guide one end of said fence for movement between raised and lowered positions, said guide means being mounted on said support member for limited movement in a direction longitudinally of said bed, whereby said guide means cooperates with a means supporting said fence at the other end of said bed for adjustment of the spacing therebetween into correspondence with the fixed length of said fence; and a latching means for locking said fence in raised position.

4. A bracket for a guard fence, comprising: a support member adapted for mounting on a side of a bed frame adjacent one end of said fence; a vertically immobile means on said support member to guide said one end of said fence for movement between raised and lowered positions, said guide means being mounted on said support member for simultaneous angular and generally longitudinal movement to permit raising and lowering of said one end of said fence independently of any vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latch means on said guide means to lock said fence in a raised position.

5. A bracket for attaching'a guard fence, comprising: a support member adapted for mounting upon a bed frame; a means on saidsupport member to guide one end of said fence for movement between raised and lowered positions, said guide means being mounted on said support member for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis and for simultaneous limited movement in a direction longitudinally of said bed and raising and lowering of said one end of said fence is permitted independently of any vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latch means on said guide means in a position offset from the axis of angular movement of said guide means whereby said latch means is selectively movable to positions above and below said axis to releasably lock said fence in either of two raised positions corresponding to the selected position of said latch means.

6. A guard fence assembly comprising: a guard fence; a pair of brackets adapted to be mounted upon one side of a bed frame at opposite ends thereof adjacent opposite ends of said fence; a guide means on each of said brackets engageable with one of said fence ends to guide said fence ends for movement of the corresponding ends of said fence between raised and lowered positions of said fence, each of said guide members being mounted on said brackets for angular movement and at least one of said guide means being simultaneously rectilinearly movable in a direction generally longitudinal of said bed whereby either end of said fence can be raised or lowered independently of vertical movement of the other end of said bed; and a latching means on each of said guide means for locking corresponding ends of said fence in araised position, each of said latching means being selectively disengageable and engageable with the corresponding end of said fence independently of engagement of the other of said latching means with the other end of said fence.

7. A universal bracket for use in mounting on a bed either end of a rigid guard fence having opposite end members comprising: a clamp adapted for detachable mounting on an upright leg of said bed and having a support member extending longitudinally inwardly from said leg; a vertically immobile guide mounted on said support member for simultaneous angular and generally longitudinal rectilinear movement in substantially the same vertical plane with said guard fence and adapted to guide one of said end members for raising; and lowering of the corresponding end of said fence independently of vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and latch. means on said guide for releasably locking saidfence in a raised position.

8. A bracket for use in mounting on a bed one end of a rigid guard fence having opposite end members, comprising: a clamp adapted for detachable mounting on an upright leg of said bed and having a support member extending longitudinally inwardly from said leg; a guide means on said support member slidably engageable with one of said end members of said fence to guide said end member for movement of the corresponding end of said fence in a substantially vertical plane between raised and lowered positions of said fence, said guide means being mounted on said support member for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis normal to the plane of said fence and also being simultaneously rectilinearly movable in a direction generally longitudinal of said bed whereby one end of said fence can be moved vertically independently of vertical movement of the other end of said bed; and a latch means on said guide means in a position offset from the axis of angular movement of said guide means, said fence being removable from said guide means to permit free movement of said guide means to selected positions of said latch means above and below said axis to releasably lock said fence in either of two raised positions.

9. A bracket for use in mounting on a bed one end of a rigid guard fence having tubular opposite end members,

comprising: a clamp adapted for detachable mounting on an upright leg of said bed and having a support member extending longitudinally inwardly from said leg; a guide means comprising a tube having a flatplate aflixed alongside one end thereof for slidable engagement with said support member, said plate having rigidly affixed thereto on the side opposite said tube, a pin that is slidably and rotat-ably mounted in a longitudinally extending slot formed in said support member whereby said tube is mounted on said support member for simultaneous angular and rectilinear movement in the same vertical plane with said guard fence, and said tube being adapted to slidably receive one of said tubular end members of said fence for raising and lowering of the corresponding end of said fence independently of vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latch means mounted adjacent the end of said tube opposite from said pin, said fence being removable from said tube to permit free angular movement of said tube whereby said latch means is movable to selected positions thereof above and below said pin to releasably lock said fence in either of two raised positions.

. 10. A bracket for use in mounting on a bed one end of a rigid guide fence having tubular opposite end members, comprising: a clamp comprising a backing plate and a parallel support member in confronting relationship and interconnected at one endv of said support member by adjustable means for clamping an upright bed leg therebetween with said support member extending longitudinally inwardly from said leg, the inwardly extending portion of said support member being sidewardly offset away. from said bed to support a guard fence guide in substantially the same vertical plane with said fence; a guide means comprising a tube having a flat plate aflixed alongside one end portion thereof for slidable engagement with the outside of said support member, said plate having rigidly afiixed thereto on the side opposite said tube, a a

pin that is slidably and rotatably mounted in a slot extending longitudinally of said support member whereby said tube is mounted on said support member for simultaneous angular and rectilinear movementin the same vertical plane with said guard fence, and said tube being adapted to slidably receive one of said tubular end members of said fence for raising and lowering of the correspondin g end of said fence independently of vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latch member mounted on the end of said tube opposite to said pin and yieldably biased into said tube through a confronting opening formed in said tube for releasable engagement with one of a pair of complementary latching portions on diametrically opposite sides of said tubular end member, said fence being removable from said tube to permit free angular movement of said tube to selected positions of 8 said latch to positions above and below said pin whereby said latch is engageable with one or. the other of said complementary latching portions of said end memberto releasably lock said fence in either of two raised positions.

11. A guard fence assembly, comprising: a guard fence; a pair of brackets for opposite ends of a side of a bed;- a pair of guide means each of which is pivotally mounted on one of said brackets to support one end of said fencefor movement through said guide means between raised and lowered positions of said fence, at least one of'said guide means beingbodily movable on its bracket longitudinally of said bed whereby one end of said fence can" be moved vertically independently of vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latching means on each of said guide means offset from the pivotal axis of said guide means and movable to selected positions of said latching means above and below said axis, said latching means releasably locking the corresponding end of said fence in either of two raised positions.

12. A guard fence assembly, comprising: a guard fence; a pair of brackets for opposite ends of a side of. a bed; a pair of guide means each of which is pivotally mounted on one of said brackets to support one end of said fence for movement through said guide means between raised and lowered positions of said fence, at least one of said guide means being bodily movable on its bracket longitudinally of said bedwhereby one end of said. fence can be moved vertically independently of vertical movement of the other end of said fence; and a latch on each of said guide means, offset from the pivotal axis of said guide means, and yieldably biased for engagement with one of a pair of diametrically opposite complementary portions. of one end of/said fence, said latch being engageable with one of said complementary portions when said guide means is pivoted to a position of said latch above said pivotal axis and being engageable with the other of said complementary portions when said guide means is pivoted to a position of said latch below said pivotal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

